Driving mechanism for washing machines



F. w. CARPENTER. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPHCATION FILED MAY 10, 1918. v

v Patented June 6, 1922.

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F. w. CARPENTER. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1-0, I918. 1,4;18A29a PatentedJune 6, 1922.

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WITNESSES. J11". ww/M.

F. W. CARPENTER. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY IOI I9I8. 1,418,429.

, Patentd June 6,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FIVE Y3 F. W. CARPENTER. I DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT; oFFlcE.

' FRANCIS w. CARPENTER, on ST. PAUL, MINfi'ESOTA, AssIGNoR To FOSSTON-GAR- PENTER COMPANY, or s'r. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION or MINNESOTA.

DRIVING. MEoHANisrt FOR wAsnING .rrAoinNEs. V

Application filed may 10,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS CARPEN4 TER, a citizen of the United States,resid in at St. Paul, in'the county of Ramsey an State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driv-in Mechanism for Washin Machines; and

do hereby declare the fo owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same.

My invention relates to washing machines of the type wherein the clothes are contained within a rotary drum and the drum is rotated first in the one direction and then in the other, and is directed chiefly to the provision of improved driving mechanism and co-operating devices. e

To the above ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings' which illustrate the commercial form of the machine, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, some 'parts being broken away and some parts being sectioned; v r

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the -machine, some parts being broken away and some parts being in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a detail view-showing the motion reversing mechanism and co-operating clutch devices of the drive, some parts being sectioned, and some parts being separated on the line 3-3 of' 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

his a section taken onthe line 5 '5 Fig. 6 is a section taken [on the. line 66 of Fig al;

7 'i7ofFi.5.-. I

' The washing tank 12' herein employed is a square structure in horizontal cross sec tion and has a semi cylindrical bottom. The said'tank may be constructed of any suitable material, but the rectangularjjportion thereof is preferably made of wood, while 'thesemi-cylindrical bottom thereof is preferablymade of sheet metal. This tank at Fig. '7 is an enlarged section on "the'line I Specification of Letters Patent. fatent d' J 6 1922;

1e18, ser ar b. 233,783.

its four corners is supported by suitable legs 13, shown as angle irons. The legs at their lower ends are rigidly tied together by a cross-beam 14; and as this washing machine is preferably driven from a small mounted on the said cross-beam 14.

Working within the tank 12 is a cylindrical drum 16 preferably having a cyllndrical shell made of perforated galvanized sheet metal. The cylindrical shell of this drum is provided with a'door opening adapted to be closed by a suitable detachable door 17. (See Fig. 2.) This drum is directly driven b a short co-axial horizontal shaft 18 (see lgs. 2, '5, and 7,) that is journaled in and ex tends through a suitable bearing in one head of the gearhousing 30 and also. in other bear-- in s hereinafter noted. p he opposite end of the drum 16 is prov1ded with a, simpletrunnion 24 that is adapted to be dropped into the open seat of a bearing 25 suitably secured to thei'adjacent head of the tank 12. f (See Fig. 2;) The above described-drum driving shaft 18 extends outward through and it is journaled in both walls of a two-part gear housing 30. (See Figs. 2, 3,, and 5.) Rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 within the gear housing 30 is a pair of reversely facing lateral y spaced beveled gears 31-4313; and keyed to said shaft and working with limited sliding movement thereon between the said gears, there is 'a tubular ended clutch sleeve -32 which by a suitable half-clutch is adapted to be interlocked alternately with the said two gears. The clutch devices by which, as shown, this is accomplished, comprises clutch electric motor 15, said motor is suitably pins 33 on said gears and pin seats 34 in the opposite ends of said clutch sleeve. The

' said ears and clutch sleeves constitute part in which each half thereof is cast as an integral part of one of the halves of the housing 30, the two castings being flanged at their abutting edges and rigidly, but detachably, connected by screws or bolts 41.

J ournaled in the neck portion 39 is a horizontal countershaft 42 which at that end which projects into the housing 30 is provided with a beveled pinion 43 that is in constant mesh with both of the gears 31 and At that end of the shaft 42 that projects into the housing 40 is secured a beveled gear 44 that is in constant mesh with a beveled gear 45 which, in turn, is loose on a long upright driving shaft 46. Working within the housing'40 and keyed for rotation with the shaft 46, but arranged to slide a vertically thereon, is a start and stop clutch sleeve 47 that is adapted to be clutched, at will, to the loose beveled gear 45. The clutch device for this purpose, as shown, comprises clutch pins 48 on the gear 45 and co-operating pin seats 49 in the adj acent end of theclutch sleeve 47. (See Figs. .3 and 6.) The clutch sleeve 47 has an annular channel that is engaged by the crank end of a short crank shaft 50 that extends through and is journaled in the outer wall of the housing 40, and at its outer end is provided with a projecting lever 51 by means of which said shaft may, at will, be oscillated to thereby slide the clutch sleeve 47 into or out of interlocking engagement with the gear 45. This lever 51 has connections which will be hereinafter described.

Directing attention again to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the hub of the gear 43 is in the form of an eccentric 52 and that a driving dog 53 is mounted on the eccentric. This driving dog 53 is gravity held in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 54 that rotates with the crank shaft 38, but

is preferably connected thereto by a yielding device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprising as follows: A semi-circular rod 55 at one end is secured to a lug 56 on the ratchet wheel 54, and at its other end works through a radially projecting lug 57 of the crank shaft 38. A coiled spring 58 on the rod 55 is compressed between the lugs 56 and 57 and a nut 59 on the end of said rod limits the expansion of this spring. Said spring connection cushions the driving action of the driving dog 53 and permits the driving force to be gradually absorbed and applied to rotate .the crankshaft 38. This is important because under rotation of the crank shaft, the lever 35 will carry the clutch sleeve 32 alternately into engagement with the clutch hubs of the two gears 31 and 31*, and it will frequently happen that the particular stroke of the dog which should serve to accomplish the clutch engagement will take place when the clutch pins'33 are not aligned with the pin seats 34. When this happens, the spring 58 will yield and as soon as the pins and pin seats are properly aligned, the clutch engagement will follow without producing any undue strain or breakage of parts. I

To prevent over rotation of the crank shaft 38 under the action of the driving dog, I preferably apply a light friction device to the hub of the ratchet wheel 54. This friction device (see Fig. 3) is in the form of a spring-yoke 60 adapted to be adjusted by a screw 61 and having its projecting end angiven alternatelyseveral rotations in the one direction and then several rotations in the opposite direction. The number of rotations the drum will be given in a constant upon the length of stroke of the driving dog.

form of the slot or channel 37 in the lever 35, (see Fig. 5) by reference to which it will be noted that the said slot at its upper and lower extremities is constructed to approximately fit the crank pin 38 so that the move- .ments of the crank pin in its upper and lower position will quite quickly accomplish that movement'of the lever that is required to shift the clutch sleeve 32 from interlocking engagement with the one gear into an interlocking engagement with the other gear, and the said crank pin when making its main 'movements from upper to lower, or lower to upper positions, will clear, or at most but barely touch the reversely bulged sides of said slot 37 and during such time will leave the lever 35 nearly, or quite, stationary and locked.v

The electric motor 15 may be arranged to drive the upright shaft 46 at a greatly reduced speed in various different ways, but preferably through a worm and gear. As shown, these connections are as follows: On the lower end of said shaft 46 (see Fig. 1) is a worm gear 63. This worm gear works in a housing 64 that affords a bearing for the lower end of the shaft 46 and has a flanged base bolted to the cross beam 14.

direction without reversal will depend upon the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel or Attention is here called to the peculiar The upper shaft bearing of the housing 64 is connectedto the lower portion of the gear housing bya metal pipe or tube, 65 that encloses the lower portion of said shaft 46. The worm gear 63 is engaged by a'worm 66 carried by a short shaft 67 to the projecting end ofwhich a grooved pulley 68 is secured. A belt 69 runs over the pulley 68 and over a smaller grooved pulley 15 secured to ,the armature shaft 70 of the electric motor 15.

It is highly desirable that when the machine is stopped. for the purpose of placing clothes within'the drum, or for removing clothes from the drum, that the drum bebrought to "a stop position with the door opening'on top. I provide a novel and efficient devicefor accomplishing this result, which device in its preferred form comprises as follows.- (See Figs. 1, 5, and 7.) The outer section of the housing 30 has a bearing hub 71 the outer surface of which is .cylindrical except at the top where it is cut away a't 71 to reduce the projecting of the said hub from the axis of the shaft 18 see particularly Fig. 7). Adjacent to the outer end of the hub 71 the shaft 18 is formed with aaperipheral notch that affords a stop-shoulder or surface 72. Mounted to oscillate on the hub 71 and on a cap-screw 73 applied to the end of the shaft 18 is a crank arm 74 that is formed with the housing or hollow portion 74 The crank arm 74 is connected by a rod 75 to the intermediate portion of the clutch actuated lever 51 (see Fig. 1). .Working within the housing 74 and pivoted to a radially ofi'set portion thereof is a stop dog .76 (again note Figs. 5 and 7). This dog 76 at its free end has ahooklikeend or stop-shoulder'that is adapted to engage the stop-shoulder -72 of the shaft 18 and, moreover, said dog at its free end has a laterally projecting cam pin 77 that rides upon the fixed hub 71. When a position in-which it will not engage the stop-shoulder 72 of the shaft 18, but-when the clutch sleeve 47 will be interlocked to the gear 45 and the drum driving mechanism will then be rendered operative-to rotate the drum, assuming, of course. that the electric motor is in action; and at the same time, or by the same adjustment of said lever 51, the crank 74 will be moved into aposition to carry the cam pin'77 of stop dog 7 6' onto the cylindrical portion of the. cam actuated hub 71. '/Hence, under the above noted adjustment of the lever 51, the rotation of the drum will not in anywise be interferred with by the stop dog.

Inthe preferred arrangement illustrated,

the clutch lever 51 is arranged to be yieldingly set against accidental movements in any one of three positions,-one extreme position of which has just above been described. This setting of the said lever may be, and preferably is, accomplished by providing the lever 51 with an ordinary yieldingly pressed pointed or rounded pin 78 of well-known construction which will engage any one of three circumferentially spaced depressions 79 formed in a'segmentalsurface '79 on the outer side of the gear casing 40 (see Fig. 1).

If the clutch lever 51 be set in its intermediate position, the clutch sleeve 47 will be nearly but not quite moved out of interlocking engagement with the gear 45, and

the crank 74 will then be set in such posi-' tion that the cam pin 77 of stop dog 76 will then rest upon, or be immediately above the flattened or reduced surface 71 of the fixed cam hub 71. Under these conditions, 'as

soon as the notch in shaft 18 comes into clutch sleeve 47 from the gear45, and thereby disconnect the drum from the motor driven shaft 46.

The drum, bv-the dog 76, will then be positively locked against forward movement in the direction of the movements of the ,hands of a clock. such directions being taken,

in respect Figs. 1 and 7.

The description above given assumes that the drum was running-in the direction just stated during the time that the above operations took place. The automatic locking action described prevents starting of the machine while the person is taking clothes out of or putting clothesinto the drum and is a very important feature. Before the drum can be again started, it must be rotated backward far enough to cause the hub 71 to raise ,the lock dog and release-the crank 74 and lever 51 for movements toward the left; andthen the said crank 74 and lever must be moved into extreme positions toward the left. This movement of the lever 51 to its extreme position at the leftcwill carry the crank 74 of the dog 76' onto the cylindrical surface of the hub 71, and thereby set the dog out of position for action on the shoulder 72, and this will release the drum for continued forward movement in the direct on stated. When the drum is filled with'clot es it.is a difiicult operation to rotate the drum backward from the position in Fig. 7, by

movements of the lever toward the left, and

. tated in a reverse direction to that noted, or

in an anti-clockwise direction, the automatic locking of the drum will not take place until the drum is reversed and has been rotated in a clockwise direction far enough to form the engagement of shoulder 7 2 with the nose of the stop dog 76, but the locking of the drum willtake place at such time and the drum will be automatically stopped with its door' open upward.'

In the drawings, a reversible wringer of well known construction is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 80; and for driving this wringer I provide* the mechanism best shown in Figs. 1, and 3. To the upper end of the' shaft 46 (see Fig. 3) is. secured a clutch collar 81 that is mounted to directly rotate in the upper portion of the housing 40. 46 indicates a shaft that is axial with shaft 46, and in fact constitutes a detachable upper extension thereof. Rigidly secured to the lower end of shaft 46* is a clutch collar 46". This clutch collz'ua 46 and the clutch collar 81, on the end of shaft 46, have interlocking clutchlike engagement, so as to cause the two shafts 46 and 46 to rotate together. Spaced from and surrounding the shaft 46? is a tubular pipe or hqusing 82, the lower end of which is mounted to oscillate in the upper portion of the housing 40, and the upper end of which is mounted to oscillate in a bearing 1 bracket 83 secured to the upper portion of one side of the tank and its supporting frame. The extreme upper end of this oscillatory housing 82- is extended into and secured to a two-part housing 84 to which latter the wringer 80 is rigidly secured by an offset bracket 85. (See Fig. 1.)

I The housing 84 is preferably made in two carries gearing driven b parts centrally divided and rigidly secured,

together by bolts or screws. The housing 84 shaft 46 and a clutch is disposed in-said ousing adapted to beoperated by a handle 91 carried on a shaft 90 to cause the gearing to drive the rolls of wringer 80 in either direction.

To hold the wringer in either of several operative positions, the depending sleeve 01- tion of the housing 84 is shown as provlded with ofi'set lugs in which is mounted a downwardly spring-pressed lock bolt 93 that is en'- f gageable with co-operating seats in the bearing bracket 83.

The wringer above described will be properly driven in any one of its several different positions, but this, of course, a feature which is not broadly new with my invention. With the described construction, however, the wringer with the gear casing 84, tube 82, and shaft 46*, may, at will, be lifted from working position and removed from the machine and, of course, it may be also easily replaced.

What. I claim is:

l. The combination with a rotary member adapted to be reversely driven, of a pair of reversely driven gears, a clutch member connected to rotate said rotary member and pawl and ratchet device driven with a timed action in respect to said reversely driven gears, said means further comprising a spring connection for cushioning the driving action of said awl and ratchet device.

2. The combination with a rotary member adapted to be reversely driven, of a power; driven shaft, a second shaft, co-operating gears, and a start and stop clutch for connecting said two shafts a third shaft connected to said rotary member, a reversible drive' forconnecting said second shaft to said third shaft, said reversible drive including a reversing clutch, a reverse lever for operating said reversing clutch, a crank for oscillating said reversing lever, a ratchet wheel connected to said crank, and a pawl driven by said second shaft and operating on said ratchet wheel, and a spring carried by said ratchet wheel through which the crank is actuated.

3. The combination with a rotary'member adapted to be reversely driven, of a power driven shaft, a second shaft, co-operatinggears and a start and stop clutchfor connecting said two shafts, a third shaft connected-to sald rotary member, a, reversible drive for connecting said second shaft-to said third shaft, said reversible drive in cluding a reversing clutch, a reverse lever for operating said reversing clutch, a crank adapted to be reversely driven, of a power driven shaft, a secon gears and a start and stop clutch for connecting said two shafts, a third shaft connected to said rotary member, a reversible drive for connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, said reversible drive includshaft, co-operating erating said reversing clutch, a crank for oscillating said reversing lever, a ratchet W eel connected to said crank, a pawl driven by ing a reversing clutch, a reverse lever forhopsaid second shaft and operating on said ratchet wheel, and a stop device adapted to be set to stop the said third shaft in a pre-' determined position,

- 5. The combination with a rotary member' adapted to be reversely driven, of a power driven shaft, a second shaft,- co-operating ears and a start and stop clutch for connecting said'two shafts, a third shaft connected to said rotary member, a reversible drive for connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, said reversible drive including a reversing clutch, a reverse-lever for operating said reversing clutch, a crank for oscillating said reversing level a ratchet wheel connected to said crank, a pawl driven by said second shaft and operating on said ratchet wheel, a stop device adapted to beset to stop the said third shaft in a predetermined posi-. tion, and a connection between'said stop device and said start and stop clutch, whereby further forward rotation of said rotary member acting through said stop device will throw said start and stop clutch out of action. 7

6. The combination with a rotary member adapted to be reversely driven, of a power driven shaft, a second shaft, co-operating gears, and a start and stop clutch for connecting said two shafts, a third shaft connected to said rotary member, a reversible drive for connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, said reversible drive in cluding a reversible clutchi, a reverse lever for operating said reversing clutch, a crank for oscillating said reversing lever, a ratchet wheel connected to said crank, a pawl driven by said second shaft and operatlng on said ratchet wheel, a stop device adapted to be 'set to stop the said third shaft in a predetermined position, and a connection between said stop ,device and said start and stop clutch, whereby the further rotation. of said rotary member, acting through said sto device, will throw said start and stop c utch out of action, the connection between said 'stop device and said start and stop clutch serving also to set said stop device in a position for action.

7. A device of the class described having incombination a rotary member, means for rotating the same including a clutch element, a clutch element for driving said element, a stop device normally in inoperative positlon adapted to engage and stop said rotary member and react to cause the first mentioned clutch element to stop and be moved out of engagement with the second mentioned clutch element by the continued ,movement of the latter. 7 8. A driving mechanism for a washing machine having in combination a rotary member, means for rotating the same, comprising a clutch element, a co-operating clutch member for driving said element, a normally inactive stopdevice for'stopping said rotary member in a predetermined position, and a connection between said stop device and said clutch mechanism for moving said clutch means to partly released position and moving said stop device to operamember, said stop device reacting to stop said clutch element whereby the same will tive position to engage and stop said rotary be completely, thrown out of engagement with said clutch member by continued move ment of the latter.

' 9. The combination with a member adapted to'be rotated and a shaft carryingsaid member, of a normally inactive stopdevice to engage said shaft for determining the po-. sition in which said rotary member will be stopped, and means for rotating said member including a clutch, and .a connection whereby apartial release of said clutch will throw said stop device into operative posi-' in said tank and having a door in its shell,

means for rotating said drum including a start and stop clutch, and a normally inactive stop arranged to be" placed in operatlve position bypartial f disengagement of said clutch which, when placed in operative position, serves subsequently to stop the.

drum with its door uppermost.

12. In a washing machine, the combination, with .a tank, of a rotary drum working insaid tank and having a door in its shell, means for rotating said drum including a start and stop clutch, a normally,inactive stop which, when rendered active, serves to stop the drum with its door uppermost, and a connection between said stop device and clutch whereby the further rotation of the drum, acting through said stop device, will automatically throw said clutch out of action. 4

13. In a washing machine, the combination with a tank, of a rotary drum working in said tank and having a door in its shell,

means for rotating said drum including a start and stop clutch,"a normally inactive stop which, when rendered active, serves to stop the drum with its door uppermost, and a connection between said stop device and clutch whereby the further rotation of the drum, acting through said stop device, will automatically throw said clutch out of action, a partial releasing movement of said clutch serving to render said stop device active.

14:. The combination with a rotary-member and means for rotating the same 'including a clutch, said rotary member .havinga shaft and said shaft having a stop shoulder, of a crank element mounted to oscillate on said shaft, a stop dog carried by said crank element and operative on the stop shoulder of said'shaft to stop said rotary member ina predetermined position, and a camsurface operative on said dog to hold the same inoperative in one tposition and operative'in shaft and saidshaft having a stop shoulder j so of a crank element mounted to oscillate on said shaft-,a stop dog carried by said crank element and operative on the stop shoulder of said shaft to-stop said rotary member in a" predetermined position, a cam surface operative on said dog to hold the same inoperative in one position and operative in another position of said crank element, and a connection between sald clutch and crank element whereby a partial releasing movementof said clutch will set said crank element in a position to release its stop dog .for automatic action.

16. The combination with a rotary member and means for rotating the same including a clutch, said rotary member having a shaft and said shaft havinga stop shoulder, of a crank element mounted to oscillate on said shaft, a stop dog carried by said crank element and operative on the stop shoulder of said shaft to stop said rotary member in a predetermined position, a cam surface operative on Said dog to hold the same inoperative in one position and operative in another position of said crank element, and a connection between said clutch and crank element whereby the further re.-

tation of said --rotary member, acting through said stop dog and crank element, will automatically throw said clutch out of action. a

17. The combination with a rotary member and means for rotating the same includ-' ing a clutch, said rotary member having a shaft and said shaft having a stop shoul er, of a crank elementmounted to oscillate on said shaft, a stop dog carried by said crank element and operative on the stop shoulder of saidshaft to stop said rotary member in a predetermined position, a cam surface operative on said dog to hold the same inoperative in one position and operative in another position of said crank element, a connection between said clutch and crank element whereby a partial releasing movement of said clutch will set said crank element in a 'position for the automatic release of its stop dog, and the further rotation of said rotary member acting through said stop dog and crank element to complete the releasing movement of said clutch.

.18. In awashing machine, the combination with a rotary drum and a motor, of means "for reversely rotating said drum from said motor comprising three shafts, the first of which is constantly driven from said motor and the third of which rotates with said drum, gears and a co-operating start and stop clutch for connecting said first and second shafts, a pair of reversely facing beveled gears loose on said third shaft, a"

beveled pinion on said second shaft meshing with said reversely facing gears and reversely driving the same, a reversing clutch sleeve slidably connected with said third shaft and having alternate clutch engagement with said reversely facing gears,-a reversing lever operative on said reversing clutch, a crank operative on said reversing lever, and a pawl and ratchet device operating yieldingly said crank from said second shaft.

i 19. A device of the class described having incombination a rotary member, means for rotating said member including a clutch element, a 00-0 erating clutch member for driving said e ement, a stop normally in inoperative position adapted to be moved to engage said rotary element, means for partially disengaging said clutch element from said clutch member and moving said stop device to engage said'rotary member and stop the same, said stop device re-acting, through said rotary member to stop said clutch element whereby the same will be completely disengaged from said clutch member byv the continued movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS W. CARPENTER. 

